Computer network system and portable computer

ABSTRACT

A computer network system in which an IP address is assigned not only automatically at a destination of a notebook size PC (portable personal computer)  4 , but also information relating to shared resources on the network is obtained at the site from a server  1  through a LAN circuit  2 , so that the notebook size PC  4  can be used by connecting to the network even in the absence of the administrator. Henceforth, when the user moves within the same building as his own office, it seems that the occasion of using the portable personal computer by connecting to the network such as the Internet and intranet increases. In such a case, connection and disconnection of the network may be repeated frequently, and setting for such operation is facilitated.

[0001] This application is a Division of application Ser. No.09/017,329, filed Feb. 2, 1998, now pending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a mobile computer used byconnecting to a network, or mainly a portable computer, and moreparticularly a network system capable of setting for using the computersystem, when such computer is moved to a place requiring change ofnetwork setting, if not having prior knowledge about the networkenvironments in that place, by presentation of information for operatingadequately in the place from a network server to the moved computersystem, and a portable computer used therein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Recently, small-sized personal computers featuring portabilityknown as notebook size personal computers are widely distributed. Inparticular, by extending the time driven by a battery, or reducing inthickness and weight for the ease of carrying as the user moves,portable personal computers meeting diversified needs of users aredeveloped, and in actual business scenes, an increasing number of usersalways carry portable personal computers, and move and use at theirdestination.

[0004] Places where portable personal computers are likely to be usedexcept in the office include the destination of visit, transportationmeans (train, automobile, airplane, etc.), and hotels, and main jobs insuch places are writing of documents or reading of e-mails or the like,and no particular problem occurs. The fact is, however, that use ofportable personal computer within the same building as the user's officeis not promoted. For example, the user usually connecting the portablepersonal computer to the network on his own desk in the office does notuse it mostly when moving within the same building for meeting or thelike. The major reason is that setting of network at the destination isnot known.

[0005] In such circumstances, henceforth, when the user moves within thesame building as the own office, it seems that chances of using theportable personal computer by connecting to the network such as Internetand intranet increase. In such cases, connection and disconnection ofthe network are frequently repeated, and hence easy setting is desired.

[0006] Incidentally, when connecting the portable personal computer tothe network in other place than usual as in the cases above, the problemis the setting of the network information. As for the IP (InternetProtocol) address, for example, by installing the DHCP (Dynamic HostConfiguration Protocol) in the server, the IP address is assignedautomatically in the network in which the server exists, and theportable personal computer can be used immediately by connecting to thenetwork.

[0007] In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-101020 (1993) andJapanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-305650 (1996), techniquesfor assigning automatically the information such as IP address and hostname necessary for connecting the computer system to the network aredisclosed.

[0008] However, all resources connected to the network are notsufficient only when usable. For example, the printer is registered asthe resource so that the same printer can be used when the portablepersonal computer is moved, but in reality it is preferred that theprinter closest to the moving destination position of the portablepersonal computer is usable. That is, the information of such resourceas the printer is not usable only by connecting the computer system to anetwork merely expanding in space, but it must be changed over to aproper resource corresponding to being closer to the moving destinationfrom the usable device, or being same in type or closer in performanceas the device used usually.

[0009] At a destination to which the user visits for the first time,however, there is no way of knowing how such information is presentedwhich resource in its vicinity, so that it is necessary to ask thepeople whose usual base of activity is the neighborhood or theadministrator of the network. However, when people having suchinformation are happened to be absent at the site, the device cannot beutilized.

[0010] Such problem occurs not only in the printer, but also in theflexible disk drive, CD-ROM drive, modem, scanner and other peripheraldevices as the portable personal computer further seeks portability,highly depending on the environments at the destination, and it isrequired to automate the setting procedure, or at least facilitate it.

[0011] As the resource, moreover, not only the hardware, but also thesoftware has the same problems. Usually, the user of the portablepersonal computer installs the software to be used daily in the ownportable personal computer, but the software to be used in a certainplace only, for example, the software for searching a database usable inone place only is not usually installed in the individual portablepersonal computer, but in a meeting room, it is effective to install anduse in the individual portable personal computers. However, suchsoftware has the same problems as in the hardware mentioned above.

[0012] Moreover, the same problem is occurred not only in temporaryconnection of the above-mentioned portable personal computer to anetwork, but also in semipermanent connection of a desktop personalcomputer to a network.

[0013] The invention is devised in the light of the above background,and is intended to utilize the portable personal computer by connectingto a network even when the administrator is absent, not only byassigning the IP address automatically at the moving destination of theportable personal computer, but also obtaining the information of theshared resource on the network from the server at the site.

[0014] Further, by comparing with the daily using environments of theuser, it is allowed to use the portable personal computer at the movingdestination in the environments closer to the usual environments for theuser, thereby avoiding extreme change of the convenience of use.

[0015] A first aspect of a computer network system of the presentinvention is characterized in that plural connecting means capable ofconnecting and disconnecting a computer is provided in a network circuitto which a first computer has been connected, and a second computer isconnected to one of the connecting means, and the first computercomprises resource information managing means for managing informationrelating to resources usable through the network circuit, and resourceinformation processing means for taking out the content of the resourceinformation managing means in response to a request of informationrelating to usable resources from other computer, and transmitting tothe network circuit, the second computer comprises resource settingmeans for setting the resource according to the content of the resourceinformation transmitted by the resource information processing means ofthe first computer, and when the second computer is connected to thenetwork circuit through any one of the plural connecting means, theresource setting means receives the content of the resource informationtransmitted by the resource information processing means of the firstcomputer and sets the resource.

[0016] A second aspect of a computer network system of the presentinvention is characterized in that plural connecting means capable ofconnecting and disconnecting a computer is provided in a network circuitto which a first computer has been connected, and a second computer isconnected to one of the connecting means, and the first computercomprises resource information managing means for managing informationrelating to resources usable through the network circuit, resourceinformation processing means for taking out the content of the resourceinformation managing means in response to a request of informationrelating to usable resources from other computer, and transmitting tothe network circuit, and resource installation position managing meansfor managing the position at which the resource managed by the resourceinformation managing means exists, the second computer comprisesposition noticing means for noticing the position information indicatingthe position to the first computer when connected to one of theconnecting means, resource selecting means for selecting an arbitraryresource out of plural resources, and resource setting means for settingthe resource according to the content of the resource informationselected by the resource selecting means, and when the second computeris connected to the network circuit through any one of the pluralconnecting means, the resource installation position managing means ofthe first computer reads out the resource information corresponding tothe position information noticed by the position noticing means from theresource information managing means, and transmits to the secondcomputer, and the resource setting means of the second computer sets theresource selected by the resource selecting means in the resourceinformation received from the first computer.

[0017] A third aspect of a computer network system of the presentinvention is characterized in that plural connecting means capable ofconnecting and disconnecting a computer is provided in a network circuitto which a first computer has been connected, and a second computer isconnected to one of the connecting means, and the first computercomprises resource information managing means for managing informationrelating to resources usable through the network circuit, and resourceinformation processing means for taking out the content of the resourceinformation managing means in response to a request of informationrelating to usable resources from other computer, and transmitting tothe network circuit, the second computer comprises resource informationholding means for holding the resource information relating to theresources that can be managed directly, and comparing means forcomparing the content of the resource information holding means and thecontent of the resource information managing means of the firstcomputer, and detecting a replaceable resource, and when the secondcomputer is connected to the network circuit through any one of theplural connecting means as being disconnected from the resource that canbe managed directly, the comparing means compares the content of theresource information managing means transmitted from the resourceinformation processing means and the content of the resource informationholding means, and the resource setting means sets a replaceableresource.

[0018] A fourth aspect of a computer network system of the presentinvention is characterized in that plural connecting means capable ofconnecting and disconnecting a computer is provided in a network circuitto which a computer is connected to one of the connecting means, and thecomputer comprises resource information managing means for managingplural sets of information relating to the resources usable through thenetwork circuit corresponding to the connecting means, positionselecting means for selecting one of the information relating to pluralsets of resources managed by the resource information managing means,and resource setting means for setting the resource according to theinformation relating to the resource corresponding to the positionselected by the position selecting means, and when the computer isconnected to the network circuit through any one of the pluralconnecting means, the resource setting means obtains the resourceinformation corresponding to the position selected by the positionselecting means from the resource information managing means, and setsthe resource.

[0019] A fifth aspect of a computer network system of the presentinvention is characterized in that plural connecting means capable ofconnecting and disconnecting a computer is provided in a network circuitto which a first computer has been connected, and a second computer isconnected to one of the connecting means, and the first computercomprises resource information managing means for managing plural setsof information relating to resources usable through the network circuitcorresponding to plural positions, the second computer comprisesresource information managing means for managing plural sets ofinformation relating to the resources usable through the network circuitcorresponding to the connecting means, position selecting means forselecting one of the information relating to plural sets of resourcesmanaged by the resource information managing means, resource settingmeans for setting the resource according to the information relating tothe resource corresponding to the position selected by the positionselecting means, and comparing means for comparing the updated time ofthe content of the own resource information managing means and theupdated time of the content of the resource information managing meansof the first computer, and when the second computer is connected to thenetwork circuit through any one of the plural connecting means, theresource setting means obtains the content of the resource informationmanaging means of the first computer, and registers in the resourceinformation managing means in the case where the comparing result by thecomparing means shows that the updated time of the content of the ownresource information managing means is before the updated time of thecontent of the resource information managing means of the firstcomputer.

[0020] A sixth aspect of a computer network system of the presentinvention is characterized in that plural connecting means capable ofconnecting and disconnecting a computer is provided in a network circuitto which a computer is connected to one of the connecting means, and thecomputer comprises resource information managing means for managingplural sets of information relating to the resources usable through thenetwork circuit corresponding to the connecting means, positionselecting means for selecting one of the information relating to pluralsets of resources managed by the resource information managing means,resource setting means for setting the resource according to theinformation relating to the resource corresponding to the positionselected by the position selecting means, updated resource informationtransmitting means for transmitting updated resource information to allcomputers connected to the network circuit when content of the resourceinformation managing means is updated, and resource information updatingmeans for updating the content of the resource information managingmeans when receiving the updated resource information, and when thecomputer is connected to the network circuit through any one of theplural connecting means, the resource information updating means updatesthe content of the resource information managing means in the case wherethe resource information updating means receives the updated resourceinformation from the updated resource information transmitting means ofother computer.

[0021] A seventh aspect of a computer network system of the presentinvention is characterized in that plural connecting means capable ofconnecting and disconnecting a computer is provided in a network circuitto which plural first computers have been connected, and a secondcomputer is connected to one of the connecting means, and each of thefirst computers comprises resource information managing means formanaging information relating to a resource installed at a specificposition usable through the network circuit, and resource informationprocessing means for taking out the content of the resource informationprocessing means in response to a request of information relating tousable resources from other computer, and transmitting to the networkcircuit, the second computer comprises position information managingmeans for managing information relating to the positions of theresources managed by each of the plural first computers, positionselecting means for selecting one of the information relating to thepositions managed by the position information managing means, resourceinformation obtaining means for obtaining the information relating tothe resource corresponding to the position selected by the positionselecting means from the first computer managing it, and resourcesetting means for setting the resource according to the content of theresource information obtained by the resource information obtainingmeans, and when the second computer is connected to the network circuitthrough any one of the plural connecting means, the resource informationobtaining means obtains the resource information corresponding to theposition selected by the position selecting means from the informationmanaged by the position information managing means, and the resourcesetting means sets the resource.

[0022] An eighth aspect of a computer network system of the presentinvention is characterized in that plural connecting means capable ofconnecting and disconnecting a computer is provided in a network circuitto which a computer is connected to one of the connecting means, and thecomputer comprises resource information obtaining means, when othercomputer is connected to the connecting means of the network circuit,for obtaining the information relating to the usable resources throughthe network circuit from the other computer, and resource setting meansfor setting the resource according to the information relating to theresource obtained by the resource information obtaining means, and whenthe computer is connected to the network circuit through any one of theplural connecting means, the resource setting means sets the resourceaccording to the resource information obtained by the resourceinformation obtaining means from other computer connected to theconnecting means of the network circuit.

[0023] A ninth aspect of a computer network system of the presentinvention is characterized in that plural connecting means capable ofconnecting and disconnecting a computer is provided in a network circuitto which a computer is connected to one of the connecting means, andeach of the plural connecting means has position managing means forstoring the position information indicating each installation position,the computer comprises resource information managing means for managingplural sets of information relating to the resources usable through thenetwork circuit corresponding to the connecting means, positionselecting means for selecting one of the information relating to pluralsets of resources managed by the resource information managing meanscorresponding to the position information stored in the positionmanaging means of the connecting means, and resource setting means forsetting the resource according to the information relating to theresource corresponding to the position selected by the positionselecting means, and when the computer is connected to the networkcircuit through any one of the plural connecting means, the resourcesetting means sets the resource according to the resource informationregistered in the resource information managing means corresponding tothe position information stored in the position information managingmeans of the connecting means to which the computer is connected.

[0024] A tenth aspect of a computer network system of the presentinvention is characterized in that plural connecting means capable ofconnecting and disconnecting a computer is provided in a network circuitto which a computer is connected to one of the connecting means, and theconnecting means comprises resource information managing means formanaging the information relating to the resources usable through thenetwork circuit near each installation position, resource informationnoticing means for noticing the content of the resource informationmanaging means when the computer system is connected, and updatedresource information registering means for updating and registering thecontent of the resource information managing means by receiving updatedresource information from the computer, the computer comprises resourceinformation receiving means for receiving the resource informationmanaged by the resource information managing means noticed by theresource information noticing means, resource setting means for settingthe resource according to the resource information received by theresource information receiving means, and updated resource informationnoticing means for noticing the updated resource information to theconnecting means in order to update the content of the resourceinformation managing means of the connecting means, and when thecomputer is connected to the network circuit through any one of theplural connecting means, the resource information receiving meansreceives the resource information managed by the resource informationmanaging means noticed from the resource information noticing means, andthe resource setting means sets the resource according to the resourceinformation received by the resource information receiving means.

[0025] An eleventh aspect of a computer network system of the presentinvention is characterized in that, in the tenth aspect, the connectingmeans further comprises updated resource information transmitting meansfor sending out updated resource information to the network circuit whenthe content of the resource information managing means is updated, andupdated resource information receiving means for updating the content ofthe resource information managing means when receiving the updatedresource information from the network circuit, when updated resourceinformation is noticed from the updated resource information noticingmeans to the connecting means, the updated resource informationtransmitting means sends out the updated resource information to thenetwork circuit, and the updated resource information receiving means,when receiving the updated resource information from the networkcircuit, updates the content of the resource information managing meansaccording to the received updated resource information.

[0026] A twelfth aspect of a computer network system of the presentinvention is characterized in that at least one connecting means capableof connecting and disconnecting a computer is provided in plural networkcircuits to each of which resource has been connected, and a computer isconnected to one of the connecting means, and the resource has resourceinformation replying means for replying the own resource informationwhen receiving a predetermined message, the computer comprises resourcerequest message transmitting means for transmitting a messagepropagating within one network circuit, resource information receivingmeans for receiving the resource information, and resource setting meansfor setting the resource according to the content of the resourceinformation received by the resource information receiving means, andwhen the computer is connected to the network circuit through any one ofthe plural connecting means, a predetermined message is transmitted fromthe resource request message transmitting means, the resourceinformation of the resource replied by the resource information replyingmeans for the predetermined message is received by the resourceinformation receiving means, and the resource is set by the resourcesetting means.

[0027] A thirteenth aspect of a computer network system of the presentinvention is characterized in that at least one connecting means capableof connecting and disconnecting a computer is provided in plural networkcircuits to each of which a first computer has been connected, and asecond computer is connected to one of the connecting means, and each ofthe first computers comprises resource information managing means formanaging information relating to resources usable through only onenetwork circuit to which each is connected, and resource informationreplying means for replying the resource information which is thecontent of the own resource information managing means when receivingthe predetermined message, the computer comprises resource requestmessage transmitting means for transmitting a message propagating withinone network circuit, resource information receiving means for receivingthe resource information, and resource setting means for setting theresource according to the content of the resource information receivedby the resource information receiving means, and when the computer isconnected to the network circuit through any one of the pluralconnecting means, a predetermined message is transmitted from theresource request message transmitting means, the resource informationreplied by the resource information replying means of the resource ofthe first computer to this predetermined message is received by theresource information receiving means, and the resource is set by theresource setting means.

[0028] A fourteenth aspect of a computer network system of the presentinvention is characterized in that plural connecting means capable ofconnecting and disconnecting a computer is provided in a network circuitto which a computer is connected to one of the connecting means, andeach of the plural connecting means comprises position managing meansfor storing the position information showing each installation position,and radio communication means, the computer comprises resourceinformation managing means for managing plural sets of informationrelating to resources usable through the network circuit correspondingto the connecting means, radio communication means for connecting withthe radio communication means of the connecting means by radiocommunication, and selecting one of the information relating to pluralsets of resources managed by the resource information managing meanscorresponding to the position information stored in the positionmanaging means of the connecting means, and resource setting means forsetting the resource according to the information relating to theresource corresponding to the position selected by the positionselecting means, and when the radio communication means of the computeris connected to the radio communication means of any one of the pluralconnecting means through radio communication, the resource setting meanssets the resource according to the resource information registered inthe resource information managing means corresponding to the positioninformation stored in the position information managing means of theconnecting means to which the radio communication means of the computeris connected.

[0029] A fifteenth aspect of a computer network system of the presentinvention is characterized in that plural connecting means capable ofconnecting and disconnecting a computer is provided in a network circuitto which a radio base station capable of communicating with a mobileradio communication device is connected, and a computer is connected toone of the connecting means, and the radio base station comprisesposition information managing means for transmitting the positioninformation for identifying itself to the network circuit whencommunicating with the mobile radio communication device, andcorresponding means for managing by corresponding between the mobileradio communication device and the computer, the computer comprisesresource information managing means for managing plural sets ofinformation relating to the resources usable through the network circuitcorresponding to the connecting means, position selecting means forselecting one of the information relating to plural sets of resourcesmanaged by the resource information managing means according to theposition information transmitted from the position managing means of theradio base station, and resource setting means for setting the resourceaccording to the information relating to the resource corresponding tothe position selected by the position selecting means, and when thecomputer is connected to the network circuit through any one of theplural connecting means, the resource setting means sets the resource byobtaining the resource information corresponding to the positionselected by the position selecting means from the resource informationmanaging means.

[0030] A portable computer of the present invention is used by beingconnected to a computer network to which a server computer is connected,and comprises: a resource information inquiring unit for inquiring theinformation relating to the resources usable in the network, to theserver computer of the network to which it is connected itself, aresource information obtaining unit for obtaining resource informationnoticed from the server computer in response to the inquiry from theresource information inquiring unit, and a resource setting unit forsetting at least one resource required in the network according to theinformation relating to the resource obtained by the resourceinformation obtaining unit, wherein the resource setting unit, whenconnected to a certain network, sets the resource according to theresource information intrinsic to the network obtained by the resourceinformation obtaining unit.

[0031] The above and further objects and features of the invention willmore fully be apparent from the following detailed description withaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032]FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a first embodiment of theinvention;

[0033]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of content of adatabase of a server;

[0034]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of aclient computer;

[0035]FIG. 4 is a time chart for explaining a second embodiment of theinvention;

[0036]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of aclient computer;

[0037]FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are schematic diagrams showing a displayexample of a client computer;

[0038]FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining a third embodiment of theinvention;

[0039]FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of content of adatabase of a server;

[0040]FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of constitution of aclient computer;

[0041]FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing setting content of resourceinformation of a client;

[0042]FIG. 11 is a block diagram for explaining a fourth embodiment ofthe invention;

[0043]FIG. 12 is a block diagram for explaining a fifth embodiment ofthe invention;

[0044]FIG. 13 is a block diagram for explaining a sixth embodiment ofthe invention;

[0045]FIG. 14 is a block diagram for explaining a seventh embodiment ofthe invention;

[0046]FIG. 15 is a block diagram for explaining an eighth embodiment ofthe invention;

[0047]FIG. 16 is a block diagram for explaining a ninth embodiment ofthe invention;

[0048]FIG. 17 is a block diagram for explaining a tenth embodiment ofthe invention;

[0049]FIG. 18 is a block diagram for explaining an eleventh embodimentof the invention;

[0050]FIG. 19 is a block diagram for explaining a twelfth embodiment ofthe invention;

[0051]FIG. 20 is a block diagram for explaining a thirteenth embodimentof the invention; and

[0052]FIG. 21 is a block diagram for explaining a fourteenth embodimentof the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0053] Referring now to the drawings, embodiments of the invention aredescribed below. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a first embodimentof a computer network system according to the invention, also showing aconstitution of a portable computer of the invention.

[0054] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a LAN circuit, and pluralinformation consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, a server 1, and peripheral devices 5a, 5 b, 5 c are connected thereto. The information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3c can be freely connected or disconnected by a portable personalcomputer (hereinafter called a notebook size PC) 4 as a client computer.

[0055] The server 1 comprises a server OS 10 and other various necessaryproducts of software, and also has a software function to communicatewith a service processing unit 11 and a resource information database12. The service processing unit 11 processes various services to thenotebook size PC 4 as the client computer. The resource informationdatabase 12 stores various data relating to shared resources.

[0056] The notebook size PC 4 includes client OS 40 and other variousnecessary products of software, and also includes a resource settingunit 41 as a software function. The resource setting unit 41 of thenotebook size PC 4 executes the processing for inquiring the informationrelating to the resource to the server 1.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 1, three printers 5 a, 5 b, 5 c are connected asperipheral devices to the LAN circuit 2. Accordingly, in the resourceinformation database 12 of the server 1, resource information isregistered as shown in the schematic diagram in FIG. 2. Morespecifically, in the resource information database 12, types ofperipheral devices (all printers), names on the network (monochromaticprinter No. 1, color printer No. 1, monochromatic printer No. 2), theirfeatures (600 dpi, color, 600 dpi), places of installation (meetingroom, south of office, north of office), usable conditions, that is, OSor hardware conditions (Windows 95, All, Windows 95/3.1), and accessconditions (none, none, registered only) are registered.

[0058] Further in the server 1, for example, the software for searchinga database intrinsic to the network to which the server 1 is connected(hereafter called search software) is installed, and this searchsoftware is also registered as resource information as shown in FIG. 2.

[0059] Hereinafter is explained a specific case of the user using thenotebook size PC 4 by connecting to the LAN circuit 2. First, the userconnects his notebook size PC 4 to one of the information consents 3 a,3 b, 3 c, for example, 3 a, and then the resource setting unit 41 of thenotebook size PC 4 broadcasts the resource request message to the LANcircuit 2, thereby waiting for a reply. When the service processing unit11 of the server 1 receives the resource request message broadcastedfrom the notebook size PC 4, the resource information database 12 issearched, and the resource usable by the notebook size PC 4 is extractedand a list (resource information list) is generated, and this resourceinformation list is transmitted to the LAN circuit 2, being destinationto the notebook size PC 4 to which the service processing unit 11 hassent the resource request message.

[0060] In the resource information database 12 of the content as shownin FIG. 2, for example, if the user of the notebook size PC 4 connectedto the information consent 3 a is a user not registered in the network,the service processing unit 11 extracts the resource informationrelating to the “monochromatic printer No. 1” and “color printer No. 1”,other than the “monochromatic printer No. 2” in which “registered persononly” is specified as the access condition, and the “search software”,and generates a resource information list.

[0061] In this way, when the resource information list is transmittedfrom the server 1 to the LAN circuit 2, it is received by the notebooksize PC 4, and is presented in a manner understandable by the user,specifically, shown on a display and like. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagramshowing a display example in the notebook size PC 4. In this example, asthe usable resources, “monochromatic printer No. 1”, “color printer No.1” and “search SW (software)” are presented, and it is shown that thefeatures of the two printers are 600 dpi and color, respectively, andthe places of installation are known to be the meeting room, south ofoffice, and the meeting room, respectively. The user refers to theresource information list presented as in FIG. 3 and selects theresource, and when, for example, “monochromatic printer No. 1” isselected, the resource setting unit 41 sets the client OS 40 so that theselected resource (monochromatic printer No. 1) may be usable in thenotebook size PC 4.

[0062] When selecting the hardware as the resource, it is possible touse only by setting the resource information as described above, butconcerning the software as the resource, it is necessary to downloadthis software into the notebook size PC 4. Therefore, when the userselects the “search software”, the resource setting unit 41 of thenotebook size PC 4 requests downloading of the selected resource (searchsoftware) to the server 1.

[0063] In response, the server 1 transmits the software requested by theservice processing unit 11, in this case, the program file of the searchsoftware to the notebook size PC 4. In the notebook size PC 4, receivingthe program file transmitted from the server 1, it is accepted by theresource setting unit 41 and registered in the program menu. Thus, inthe notebook size PC 4, it is possible to start the search softwareregistered in the program menu, and the user can use the search softwareon the notebook size PC 4 in the meeting room.

[0064] A second embodiment of the invention is described below. In thefirst embodiment, of the resource information registered in the resourceinformation database 12 of the server 1, the resource information of allperipheral devices that can be connected to the notebook size PC 4 istransmitted to the notebook size PC 4, but it is also possible topresent the place of controlling the resource by the server 1 from theserver 1 itself, and designate the place from the notebook size PC 4.

[0065] That is, as shown in the time chart in FIG. 4, first the notebooksize PC 4 transmits a resource request message without designation ofplace to the server 1 (step S11). In response, the server 1 notices theinformation of the place for managing the resource by the server 1itself to the notebook size PC 4 as the managing place list (step S12).A menu screen of managing places as schematically shown in FIG. 5 ispresented in the notebook size PC 4.

[0066] In the example shown in FIG. 5, the server 1 manages three areas,that is, north portion FN and south portion FS of office, and meetingroom FM, and it shows, in other words, that the LAN circuit 2 isinstalled in these three areas. As shown in FIG. 2, the monochromaticprinter No. 2 is installed in the north of office FN, a color printerNo. 1 in the south of office FS, and monochromatic printer No. 1 in themeeting room FM, and it further shows that the search software is usablein the meeting room FM.

[0067] When the user of the notebook size PC 4 designates any area, forexample, north of office on the menu as shown in FIG. 5, a resourcerequest message with designation of place is transmitted from thenotebook size PC 4 to the server 1 (step S13). Receiving this resourcerequest message with designation of place, the server 1 extracts theresource information installed in the designated place, and transmitsthe list to the notebook size PC 4 (step S14). As a result, theinformation relating to the resource installed in the north of office FNis presented in the notebook size PC 4. When the server 1 is managingthe resource as shown schematically in FIG. 2, “monochromatic printerNo. 2” is displayed as a usable resource as shown schematically in FIG.6A.

[0068] When the user selects the “monochromatic printer No. 2”, same asin the foregoing first embodiment, its use is enabled in the notebooksize PC 4. Further, when the user selects the “meeting room” on thescreen as shown in FIG. 5, the “monochromatic printer No. 1” and “searchSW” are displayed as usable resources on the screen as shown in FIG. 6B.When the user selects “search SW” herein, same as in the firstembodiment, the program file of the search software is downloaded in thenotebook size PC 4 and is usable.

[0069]FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a third embodiment of theinvention.

[0070] What the third embodiment shown in FIG. 7 differs from the firstembodiment shown in FIG. 1 is that peripheral devices are connected alsoto the server 1 itself, aside from the peripheral devices connected tothe LAN circuit 2. That is, a flexible disk drive (FDD) 111, a CD-ROMdrive (CDD) 112, and a magneto-optical disk drive (MOD) 113 areconnected to the server 1.

[0071] Therefore, in the resource information database 12 of such server1, the resource information as shown in the schematic diagram in FIG. 8is registered. More specifically, same as the resource informationdatabase 12 in the first embodiment schematically shown in FIG. 2, theresource information of three printers 5 a, 5 b, 5 c is registered, andalso the resource information relating to the peripheral devices such asFDD 111, CDD 112, MOD 113 connected to the server 1 is registered.

[0072] That is, the types of these peripheral devices (FD, CD-ROM, MO),names on the network (all “server 1”), their features (3.5 inch, 10×speed, 640 MB), places of installation (all “south of office”), usableconditions, that is, OS or hardware conditions (all “Windows 95/3.1”),and access conditions (all “none”) are registered.

[0073] On the other hand, FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing anexample of constitution in the case of the user using the notebook sizePC 4 on his own desk. When the user uses the notebook size PC 4 on hisown desk, generally, it is connected to a docking station 400 by a bus410. The docking station 400 comprises FDD 401, CDD 402, MOD 403, andLAN adapter 404. The LAN adapter 404 is connected to a LAN circuit 411different from the LAN circuit 2.

[0074] Therefore, in the ordinary state of the user using the notebooksize PC 4 on his own desk, the notebook size PC 4 is used as beingconnected to the docking station 400 which is connected to the LANcircuit 411. In this state, the notebook size PC 4 is accessible to theFDD 401, CDD 402, MOD 403, and is also accessible to the LAN circuit 411through the LAN adapter 404. However, when the user uses the notebooksize PC 4 in other place than his own desk, the notebook size PC 4 isseparated from the docking station 400 and moved. In this case,therefore, the FDD 401, CDD 402, MOD 403, etc. cannot be used.

[0075]FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the content of the resourceinformation set in the client OS 40 of the notebook size PC 4. The FDD401 of the docking station 400 is connected to drive A, the internalhard disk to drive C, the CDD 402 of the docking station 400 to drive D,the MOD 403 of the docking station 400 to drive E, and the network drive1 to drive F, respectively, and the others than the internal hard diskconnected to drive C can be replaced. Replacing means that equivalentresource devices, if present, can be used. Moreover, a printer thatcannot be replaced is connected to a port LPT No. 1, a replaceable 600dpi printer (monochromatic) to a printer port No. 1, and a replaceablecolor printer to a printer port No. 2.

[0076] Therefore, when the notebook size PC 4 is separated from thedocking station 400 and moved to other place, it means that equivalentdevices existing at the destination can be used instead of the FDD 401,CDD 402, MOD 403, etc. For example, when the notebook size PC 4 isseparated from the docking station 400, the FDD 401 cannot be used, butif there is a sharable FDD, it can be used through the network (LANcircuit 2). Accordingly, when the resource information list from theservice processing unit 11 of the server 1 is received in the notebooksize PC 4, if a device equivalent to the resource registered as beingreplaceable in the client OS 40 of the notebook size PC 4 is present inthe resource information list, the resource setting unit 41 replaceswith it and sets.

[0077] By such processing by the resource setting unit 41, when thenotebook size PC 4 is moved from the user's desk to other place and isconnected to the LAN circuit 2, by the same setting as in usual resourcesetting, the FDD 111, CDD 112, MOD 113 connected to the server 1, andthe printers 5 a, 5 b, 5 c, etc. connected to the LAN circuit 2 can beused.

[0078] When the user selects the software as the resource, same as inthe case of the first embodiment, the resource setting unit 41 of thenotebook size PC 4 sends a download request of the software, and in theserver 1, the service processing unit 11 transmits the program of thesoftware to the notebook size PC 4. In the notebook size PC 4, theresource setting unit 41 receives the transmitted program, anddownloads, and registers it in the program menu. As a result, the usercan use the software on the notebook size PC 4.

[0079] A fourth embodiment of the invention is described while referringto a block diagram in FIG. 11.

[0080] In FIG. 11, reference numeral 2 denotes a LAN circuit, and pluralinformation consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c are connected thereto. The notebooksize PC 4 can freely connect to or disconnect from the informationconsents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c.

[0081] The notebook size PC 4 includes a resource setting unit 41, aresource information database 42, and a destination selecting unit 43.The resource setting unit 41 of the notebook size PC 4 executesprocessing for actually setting the resource in the notebook size PC 4.In the resource information database 42, a list of resource informationcorresponding to several preset destinations is registered. Thedestination selecting unit 43 selects the actually moved place of theuser, or the notebook size PC 4, out of the destinations registered inthe resource information database 42.

[0082] When the user uses the notebook size PC 4 by connecting to theLAN circuit 2, the operation is as follows. First, the user connects thenotebook size PC 4 to one of the information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, forexample, 3 a, then the destination selecting unit 43 displays severaldestinations registered in the resource information database 42. Whenthe user selects the actual place of move from the displayed destinationcandidates, the resource setting unit 41 of the notebook size PC 4 readsout and displays a list of resource information registered correspondingto the place from the resource information database 42.

[0083] When the list of resource information is displayed in this way,the user sets the resource by referring to the displayed list.

[0084] A fifth embodiment of the invention is described while referringto a block diagram in FIG. 12.

[0085] In FIG. 12, reference numeral 2 denotes a LAN circuit, and pluralinformation consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, and a server 1 are connectedthereto. The notebook size PC 4 as the client computer, can freelyconnect to or disconnect from the information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c.

[0086] The server 1 includes a service processing unit 11 and a resourceinformation database 12. The service processing unit 11 processesvarious services to the notebook size PC 4 which is the client computer.The resource information database 12 stores various data relating toshared resources.

[0087] The notebook size PC 4 includes a resource setting unit 41, aresource information database 42, a destination selecting unit 43, and adata managing unit 44. The resource setting unit 41 executes processingfor actually setting the resource in the notebook size PC 4. In theresource information database 42, a list of resource informationcorresponding to several preset destinations is registered. Thedestination selecting unit 43 selects the actually moved place of theuser, or, in other words, the notebook size PC 4, out of thedestinations registered in the resource information database 42. Thedata managing unit 44 receives the updated date of the content of theresource information database 12 transmitted from the service processingunit 11 of the server 1, and when it is later than the updated date ofthe resource information database 42 of the notebook size PC 4, thecontent of the resource information data base 12 of the server 1 isdownloaded into the resource information database 42.

[0088] When the user uses the notebook size PC 4 by connecting to theLAN circuit 2, the operation is as follows. First, the user connects thenotebook size PC 4 to one of the information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, forexample, 3 a, then the resource setting unit 41 of the notebook size PC4 broadcasts the resource request message to the LAN circuit 2, andwaits for response. When the service processing unit 11 of the server 1receives the message broadcasted from the notebook size PC 4, theresource information database 12 is searched, and a list of resourcesusable by the notebook size PC 4 is generated, and this list istransmitted to the LAN circuit 2, being a destination to the notebooksize PC 4 to which the message has been transmitted from the serviceprocessing unit 11.

[0089] When the list is thus transmitted from the server 1 to the LANcircuit 2, it is received by the data managing unit 44 of the notebooksize PC 4, and the updated date is compared with the updated data of theresource information database 42 of the notebook size PC 4. As a resultof comparison by the data managing unit 44, only when the updated dateof the resource information database 12 of the server 1 is later, thecontent is received in the resource setting unit 41, and downloaded intothe resource information database 42.

[0090] Then, the destination selecting unit 43 displays severaldestinations registered preliminarily in the resource informationdatabase 42. When the user selects the actual place of move out of thedisplayed destination candidates, the resource setting unit 41 of thenotebook size PC 4 reads out and displays a list of resource informationregistered corresponding to the place from the resource informationdatabase 42.

[0091] When the list of resource information is displayed in this way,the user sets the resource by referring to the displayed list.

[0092] Incidentally, when the notebook size PC 4 is connected to thesame information consent 3 a (or 3 b, 3 c) continuously more than apredetermined time, the updated date of the resource informationdatabase 12 of the server 1 and the updated date of the resourceinformation database 42 of the notebook size PC 4 may be automaticallycompared in a predetermined period by the data managing unit 44.

[0093] When the user selects the software as the resource, same as inthe case of the first embodiment, the resource setting unit 41 of thenotebook size PC 4 sends a download request of the software, and in theserver 1, the service processing unit 11 transmits the program of thesoftware to the notebook size PC 4. In the notebook size PC 4, theresource setting unit 41 receives the transmitted program, anddownloads, and registers it in the program menu. As a result, the usercan use the software on the notebook size PC 4.

[0094] A sixth embodiment of the invention is described while referringto a block diagram in FIG. 13.

[0095] In FIG. 13, reference numeral 2 denotes a LAN circuit, and pluralinformation consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c are connected thereto. The notebooksize PC 4 can freely connect to or disconnect from the informationconsents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c.

[0096] The notebook size PC 4 includes a resource setting unit 41, aresource information database 42, a destination selecting unit 43, amessage processing unit 45, and a database updating unit 46. Theresource setting unit 41 executes processing for actually setting theresource in the notebook size PC 4. In the resource information database42, a list of resource information corresponding to several presetdestinations is registered. The destination selecting unit 43 selectsthe actually moved place of the user, or, in other words, the notebooksize PC 4, out of the destinations registered in the resourceinformation database 42. The message processing unit 45 receives anupdated message of the resource information database 42. The databaseupdating unit 46 updates the resource information database 42automatically from the received message.

[0097] When the user uses the notebook size PC 4 by connecting to theLAN circuit 2, the operation is as follows. First, the user connects thenotebook size PC 4 to one of the information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, forexample, 3 a, then the destination selecting unit 43 displays severaldestinations registered preliminarily in the resource informationdatabase 42. When the user selects the actual place of move out of thedisplayed destination candidates, the resource setting unit 41 of thenotebook size PC 4 reads out and displays a list of resource informationregistered corresponding to the place from the resource informationdatabase 42.

[0098] When the list of resource information is displayed in this way,the user sets the resource by referring to the displayed list.

[0099] Incidentally, when the user of such network changes the resourceinformation, from a personal computer of the user connected to the LANcircuit 2, for example, by a storage type message such as e-mail, thechanged resource information is transmitted to a personal computerhaving the same function as the notebook size PC 4 through the LANcircuit 2. This message is received in the message processing unit 45 ofthe notebook size PC 4, and according to its content the databaseupdating unit 46 updates the content of the resource informationdatabase 42. Therefore, in this sixth embodiment, not only theadministrator of the network, but also the general user can update theresource.

[0100] A seventh embodiment of the invention is described whilereferring to a block diagram in FIG. 14.

[0101] In FIG. 14, reference numeral 2 denotes a LAN circuit, and pluralinformation consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, and servers 1-1 and 1-2 areconnected thereto. The notebook size PC 4 as the client computer canfreely connect to or disconnect from the information consents 3 a, 3 b,3 c.

[0102] The server 1-1 (or 1-2) includes a service processing unit 11-1(or 11-2) and a resource information database 12-1 (or 12-2). Theservice processing unit 11-1 (or 11-2) processes various services to thenotebook size PC 4 which is the client computer. The resourceinformation database 12-1 (or 12-2) stores various data relating toshared resources.

[0103] In the seventh embodiment, two servers 1-1 and 1-2 as mentionedabove are connected to the LAN circuit 2, but actually the two servers1-1 and 1-2 are installed in different places, for example, differentfloors or different rooms in a same building. In the example shown inFIG. 14, the server 1-1 is installed on a first floor F1 of a certainbuilding, and the server 1-2 on a second floor F2 of the same building.The information consent 3 c is installed on the first floor F1, andothers 3 a, 3 b on the second floor F2.

[0104] In the server 1-1, a list of resource information of variousdevices installed on the first floor F1 on which this server 1-1 isinstalled is registered, and in the server 1-2, similarly, a list ofresource information of various devices installed on the second floor F2on which this server 1-2 is installed is registered.

[0105] The notebook size PC 4 includes a resource setting unit 41, adestination selecting unit 43, and a resource information registeringunit 47. The resource setting unit 41 of the notebook size PC 4 executesprocessing for inquiring information relating to the resource to theserver 1-1 or 1-2. The destination selecting unit 43 selects theactually moved place of the user, or, in other words, the notebook sizePC 4. The resource information registering unit 47 connects to theserver 1-1 or 1-2 corresponding to the place selected by the destinationselecting unit 43, and downloads or sets the resource informationregistered in the resource information database 12-1 or 12-2 through theservice processing unit 11-1 or 11-2.

[0106] When the user uses the notebook size PC 4 by connecting to theLAN circuit 2, the operation is as follows. First, the user connects thenotebook size PC 4 to one of the information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c,then the destination selecting unit 43 selects the destination, and theresource information registering unit 47 transmits the message to eitherserver 1-1 or 1-2, for example, server 1-1 corresponding to the selectedplace, and the service processing unit 11 downloads and sets the list ofresource information registered in the resource information database12-1 in the OS 11-1 (operating system).

[0107] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, when the notebook size PC 4 isconnected to the information consent 3 a installed on the second floorF2, the user has only to select the second floor F2 out of the placesdisplayed by the destination selecting unit 43. As a result, theresource information registering unit 47 transmits the message to theserver 1-2 installed on the second floor F2, and downloads the list ofinformation relating to the resources installed on the second floor F2from the resource information database 12, and registers and sets in theOS.

[0108] Or, when the notebook size PC 4 is connected to the informationconsent 3 c installed on the first floor F1, the user has only to selectthe first floor F1 out of the places displayed by the destinationselecting unit 43. As a result, the resource information registeringunit 47 transmits the message to the server 1-1 installed on the firstfloor F1, and downloads the list of information relating to theresources installed on the first floor F1 from the resource informationdatabase 12, and registers and sets in the OS.

[0109] Incidentally, when the user selects the software as the resource,same as in the case of the first embodiment, the resource setting unit41 of the notebook size PC 4 sends a download request of the software,and in the server 1-1 or 1-2, the service processing unit 11-1 or 11-2transmits the program of the software to the notebook size PC 4. In thenotebook size PC 4, the resource setting unit 41 receives thetransmitted program, and downloads, and registers it in the programmenu. As a result, the user can use the software on the notebook size PC4.

[0110] An eighth embodiment of the invention is described whilereferring to a block diagram in FIG. 15.

[0111] In FIG. 15, reference numeral 2 denotes a LAN circuit, and pluralinformation consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, and plural personal computes (PCs)5-1, 5-2 are connected thereto. The notebook size PC 4 as the clientcomputer can freely connect to or disconnect from the informationconsents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c.

[0112] The PC 5-1 (or 5-2) includes a service processing unit 11-1 (or11-2) and a resource information obtaining unit 13-1 (or 13-2). Theservice processing unit 11-1 (or 11-2) processes various services to thenotebook size PC 4. The resource information obtaining unit 13-1 (or13-2) obtains the resource setting information set in the OS (operatingsystem) 10-1 (or 10-2) of the PC 5-1 (or 5-2).

[0113] Herein, the two PCs 5-1, 5-2 are installed in different places,for example, different floors or different rooms in a same building. Inthe example shown in FIG. 15, the PC 5-1 is installed on a first floorF1 of a certain building, and the PC 5-2 on a second floor F2 of thesame building. The information consent 3 c is installed on the firstfloor F1, and others 3 a, 3 b on the second floor F2.

[0114] In the PC 5-1, a list of resource information of various devicesinstalled on the first floor F1 on which this PC 5-1 is installed isregistered, and in the PC 5-2, similarly, a list of resource informationof various devices installed on the second floor F2 on which this PC 5-2is installed is registered, respectively in the individual OS 10-1,10-2.

[0115] The notebook size PC 4 includes a resource setting unit 41, adestination selecting unit 43, and a resource information registeringunit 47. The resource setting unit 41 executes processing for inquiringinformation relating to the resource to the PC 5-1 or 5-2. Thedestination selecting unit 43 selects the actually moved place of theuser, or the notebook size PC 4. The resource information registeringunit 47 connects to the PC 5-1 or 5-2 corresponding to the placeselected by the destination selecting unit 43, and downloads or sets theresource information registered in the resource information database 12through the service processing unit 11-1 or 11-2.

[0116] When the user uses the notebook size PC 4 by connecting to theLAN circuit 2, the operation is as follows. First, the user connects thenotebook size PC 4 to one of the information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c,then the destination selecting unit 43 selects the actual destination,and the resource information registering unit 47 transmits the messageto either PC 5-1 or 5-2, for example, PC 5-1 corresponding to theselected place, and downloads the list of resource informationregistered in the OS 10-1 from its service processing unit 11-1 and setsin its own OS 40.

[0117] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, when the notebook size PC 4 isconnected to the information consent 3 a installed on the second floorF2, the destination selecting unit 43 selects the second floor F2, andthe resource information registering unit 47 transmits the message tothe PC 5-2 installed on the second floor F2, and downloads the list ofinformation relating to the resources installed on the second floor F2from the OS 10-2 of the PC 5-2, and sets in the own OS 40.

[0118] Or, when the notebook size PC 4 is connected to the informationconsent 3 c installed on the first floor F1, the destination selectingunit 43 selects the first floor F1, and the resource informationregistering unit 47 transmits the message to the PC 5-1 installed on thefirst floor F1, and downloads the list of information relating to theresources installed on the first floor F1 from the OS 10-1 of the PC5-1, and sets in the own OS 40.

[0119] Incidentally, when the user selects the software as the resource,same as in the case of the first embodiment, the resource setting unit41 of the notebook size PC 4 sends a download request of the software,and in the PC 5-1 or 5-2, the service processing unit 11 transmits theprogram of the software to the notebook size PC 4. In the notebook sizePC 4, the resource setting unit 41 receives the transmitted program, anddownloads, and registers it in the program menu. As a result, the usercan use the software on the notebook size PC 4.

[0120] A ninth embodiment of the invention is described while referringto a block diagram in FIG. 16.

[0121] In FIG. 16, reference numeral 2 denotes a LAN circuit, and pluralinformation consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c are connected thereto. The notebooksize PC 4 can freely connect to or disconnect from the informationconsents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c.

[0122] The information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c are provided with networkposition managing units 31 a, 31 b, 31 c, respectively. In each one ofthese network position managing units 31 a, 31 b, 31 c, a uniqueidentifier is stored, and when the notebook size PC 4 is connected toone of the information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, the identifier stored inthe corresponding network position managing unit 31 a, 31 b, or 31 c isread into the notebook size PC 4.

[0123] The notebook size PC 4 includes a resource setting unit 41, aresource information database 42, and a destination selecting unit 43.The resource setting unit 41 executes processing for actually settingthe resource to the notebook size PC 4. In the resource informationdatabase 42, a list of resource information corresponding to severalpreset destinations is registered. The destination selecting unit 43reads out the identifier from the network position managing unit 31 a,31 b, or 31 c when the notebook size PC 4 is connected to one of theinformation consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, and selects the correspondingdestination out of the destinations registered in the resourceinformation database 42.

[0124] When the user uses the notebook size PC 4 by connecting to theLAN circuit 2, the operation is as follows. First, the user connects thenotebook size PC 4 to one of the information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, forexample, 3 a, then the destination selecting unit 43 reads out theidentifier from the network position managing unit 31 a of theinformation consent 3 a, and selects the corresponding destination outof several destinations preliminarily registered in the resourceinformation database 42. Consequently, the resource setting unit 41 ofthe notebook size PC 4 reads out a list of resource informationregistered corresponding to the destination out of the resourceinformation database 42, and registers in the OS.

[0125] Therefore, in the ninth embodiment, once the user connects thenotebook size PC 4 to one of the information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, thelist of the resource information is automatically registered in the OS,so that the user has nothing to do thereafter.

[0126] A tenth embodiment of the invention is described while referringto a block diagram in FIG. 17.

[0127] In FIG. 17, reference numeral 2 denotes a LAN circuit, and pluralinformation consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c are connected thereto. The notebooksize PC 4 can freely connect to or disconnect from the informationconsents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c.

[0128] The information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c are identical inconstitution, and the information consent 3 a is described herein. Theinformation consent 3 a comprises a resource information managing unit32 a, an updated resource information registering unit 33 a, a resourceinformation noticing unit 34 a, an updated resource informationreceiving unit 35 a, and an updated resource information transfer unit37 a.

[0129] In the resource information managing unit 32 a, resourceinformation usable near the information consent 3 a in which it isprovided is registered. The updated resource information registeringunit 33 a processes updated registration of the resource informationregistered in the resource information managing unit 32 a. The resourceinformation noticing unit 34 a obtains the resource informationregistered in the resource information managing unit 32 a when it isupdated by the updated resource information registering unit 33 a, andnotices it to the notebook size PC 4 connected to the informationconsent 3 a in which it is provided. The updated resource informationreceiving unit 35 a receives the updated resource information flowing inthe LAN circuit 2, so that the updated resource information registeringunit 33 a updates the content of the resource information managing unit32 a. The updated resource information transfer unit 37 a sends out thedifferential information to the LAN circuit 2 when the content of theresource information managing unit 32 a is updated.

[0130] The notebook size PC 4 includes a resource setting unit 41, aresource information receiving unit 48, and an updated resourceinformation noticing unit 49. The resource setting unit 41 executesprocessing for actually setting the resource to the notebook size PC 4.The resource information receiving unit 48 receives the resourceinformation from the resource information noticing unit 34 a when thenotebook size PC 4 is connected to the information consent 3 a (or 3 b,3 c).

[0131] The updated resource information noticing unit 49 notices newresource information through the updated resource informationregistering unit 33 a for updating the resource information registeredin the resource information managing unit 32 a, for example, when thenotebook size PC 4 is connected to the information consent 3 a out ofthe information consents. This updated resource information noticingunit 49 is provided in at least one of the notebook size PCs 4 connectedto the LAN circuit 2.

[0132] When the user uses the notebook size PC 4 by connecting to theLAN circuit 2, the operation is as follows. First, the user connects thenotebook size PC 4 to one of the information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, forexample, 3 a, then the resource information noticing unit 34 a obtains alist of resource information from the updated resource informationregistering unit 33 a of the information consent 3 a, and notices to thenotebook size PC 4. In the notebook size PC 4, a list of resourceinformation noticed from the resource information noticing unit 34 a isreceived by the resource information receiving unit 48, and the resourcesetting unit 41 registers and sets in the OS.

[0133] Therefore, in the tenth embodiment, once the user connects thenotebook size PC 4 to any one of the information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c,for example, 3 a, the resource information near the information consent3 a is automatically obtained in the notebook size PC 4 from theresource information managing unit 32 a, and registered in its OS, sothat the user has nothing to do thereafter.

[0134] Incidentally, the resource information registered in the resourceinformation managing unit 32 a of the information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 cis updated when the notebook size PC 4 having the updated resourceinformation noticing unit 49 is connected to this information consent 3a, and new resource information, that is, updated resource informationis noticed from the updated resource information noticing unit 49 toeach resource information managing unit 32 a through the updatedresource information registering unit 33 a of the information consent 3a. This is same in the other information consents 3 b, 3 c. In thiscase, the difference between the updated resource information and theresource information stored in the resource information managing unit 32a so far is sent out to the LAN circuit 2 from, for example, the updatedresource information transfer unit 37 a of the information consent 3 a.In the other information consents 3 b, 3 c, the difference of theresource information sent out to the LAN circuit 2 in this manner isreceived in each updated resource information receiving unit from theLAN circuit 2, and the content of each resource information managingunit is updated.

[0135] An eleventh embodiment of the invention is described whilereferring to a block diagram in FIG. 18.

[0136] In FIG. 18, reference numerals 2-1 and 2-2 denote independent LANcircuits, which are connected by a LAN connecting device 20. Whencommunicating from one LAN circuit 2-1 (or 2-2) to other LAN circuit 2-2(or 2-1) across the LAN connecting device 20, it is necessary todesignate the LAN address. Information consents 3 a, 3 b are connectedto the LAN circuit 2-1, and information consent 3 c to the LAN circuit2-2, and the notebook size PC 4 can freely connect to or disconnect fromthe information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c.

[0137] In the eleventh embodiment, thus, the two LAN circuits 2-1, 2-2are connected through the LAN connecting device 20, but actually theboth LAN circuits 2-1, 2-2 are installed in different places, forexample, on different floors or in different rooms of a same building.In the example shown in FIG. 18, the LAN circuit 2-1 is installed on afirst floor F1 of a certain building, and the LAN circuit 2-2 is on asecond floor F2 of the same building. The information consent 3 c isconnected to the LAN circuit 2-1 of the first floor F1, and the others 3a, 3 b to the LAN circuit 2-2 on the second floor F2.

[0138] Further, in the LAN circuit 2-1, that is, on the first floor F1,a peripheral device 6-1 such as printer is connected, and in the LANcircuit 2-2, that is, on the second floor F2, a peripheral device 6-2such as printer is connected.

[0139] The notebook size PC 4 includes a resource setting unit 41, aresource information receiving unit 48, and a resource request messagetransmitting unit 50. The resource setting unit 41 executes processingfor actually setting the resource to the notebook size PC 4. Theresource information receiving unit 48 receives the reply message of themessage transmitted from the resource request message transmitting unit50 to the LAN circuit 2-1 (or 2-2). The resource request messagetransmitting unit 50 transmits the message only to the device connectedto the same LAN circuit 2-1 (or 2-2) as in the notebook size PC 4 inorder to search the resource.

[0140] The peripheral devices 6-1, 6-2 are provided with registeredresource information replying units 61-1, 61-2, aside from the intrinsicfunctions. The registered resource information replying units 61-1, 61-2transmit the resource information for registering themselves in thenotebook size PC 4 when receiving the message broadcasted from theresource setting unit 41 of the notebook size PC 4.

[0141] When the user uses the notebook size PC 4 by connecting to theLAN circuit 2-1 or 2-2, the operation is as follows. First, the userconnects the notebook size PC 4 to one of the information consents 3 a,3 b, 3 c, for example, the information consent 3 a connected to the LANcircuit 2-1 on the first floor, then the resource request message isbroadcasted from the resource request message transmitting unit 50 ofthe notebook size PC 4 only to the range within LAN circuit 2-1 to whichthis notebook size PC 4 is connected, in other words, in a range notexceeding the LAN connecting device 20.

[0142] The resource request message broadcasted from the resourcerequest message transmitting unit 50 of the notebook size PC 4 to theLAN circuit 2-1 through the information consent 3 a is received in thedevice having the registered resource information replying units (61-1,61-2) in the device connected to the LAN circuit 2-1, that is, theperipheral device 6-1 in the example shown in FIG. 18. The registeredresource information replying unit 61-1 of the peripheral device 6-1,when receiving the resource request message broadcasted from thenotebook size PC 4, transmits the resource information for registeringitself in the notebook size PC 4.

[0143] Thus, the resource information replied from the registeredresource information replying unit 61-1 of the peripheral device 6-1 isreceived in the resource information receiving unit 48 of the notebooksize PC 4, and the resource setting unit 41 registers and sets in theOS.

[0144] Therefore, in the eleventh embodiment, once the user connects thenotebook size PC 4 to any one of the information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c,the resource information in the device connected to the LAN circuit 2-1(or 2-2) to which the information consent 3 a is connected, in otherwords, only in the place where the LAN circuit 2-1 (or 2-2) is installedis automatically obtained in the notebook size PC 4 and registered inits OS, so that the user has nothing to do thereafter.

[0145] A twelfth embodiment of the invention is described whilereferring to a block diagram in FIG. 19.

[0146] In FIG. 19, reference numerals 2-1 and 2-2 denote independent LANcircuits, which are connected by a LAN connecting device 20. Whencommunicating from one LAN circuit 2-1 (or 2-2) to other LAN circuit 2-2(or 2-1) across the LAN connecting device 20, it is necessary todesignate the LAN address. Information consents 3 a, 3 b are connectedto the LAN circuit 2-1, and information consent 3 c to the LAN circuit2-2, and the notebook size PC 4 can freely connect to or disconnect fromthe information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c.

[0147] In the twelfth embodiment, thus, the two LAN circuits 2-1, 2-2are connected through the LAN connecting device 20, but actually theboth LAN circuits 2-1, 2-2 are installed in different places, forexample, on different floors or in different rooms of a same building.In the example shown in FIG. 19, the LAN circuit 2-1 is installed on afirst floor F1 of a certain building, and the LAN circuit 2-2 is on asecond floor F2 of the same building. The information consent 3 c isconnected to the LAN circuit 2-1 of the first floor F1, and the others 3a, 3 b to the LAN circuit 2-2 on the second floor F2.

[0148] Further, a server 1-1 is connected to the LAN circuit 2-1, and aserver 1-2 to the LAN circuit 2-2. In other words, the server 1-2 isinstalled on the first floor F1, and the LAN circuit 2-1 on the secondfloor F2.

[0149] The notebook size PC 4 includes a resource setting unit 41, aresource information receiving unit 48, and a resource request messagetransmitting unit 50. The resource setting unit 41 executes processingfor actually setting the resource to the notebook size PC 4. Theresource information receiving unit 48 receives the reply message of themessage transmitted from the resource request message transmitting unit50 to the LAN circuit 2-1 (or 2-2). The resource request messagetransmitting unit 50 transmits the message only to the device connectedto the same LAN circuit 2-1 (or 2-2) as in the notebook size PC 4 inorder to search the resource.

[0150] The servers 1-1, 1-2 are provided with registered resourceinformation replying units 61-1, 61-2, and resource information managingunits 62-1, 62-2. The registered resource information replying units61-1, 61-2 transmit the resource information for registering theresource information in the notebook size PC 4 when receiving themessage broadcasted from the resource setting unit 41 of the notebooksize PC 4. The resource information managing units 62-1, 62-2 aremanaging the resource information usable in the periphery of theinstallation of their servers 1-1, 1-2, that is, the place ofinstallation of the LAN circuit 2-1 or 2-2 to which the server 1-1 or1-2 is connected.

[0151] When the user uses the notebook size PC 4 by connecting to theLAN circuit 2-1 or 2-2, the operation is as follows. First, the userconnects the notebook size PC 4 to one of the information consents 3 a,3 b, 3 c, for example, the information consent 3 a connected to the LANcircuit 2-1 on the first floor, then the resource request message isbroadcasted from the resource request message transmitting unit 50 ofthe notebook size PC 4 only to the range within LAN circuit 2-1 to whichthis notebook size PC 4 is connected, in other words, in a range notexceeding the LAN connecting device 20.

[0152] The resource request message broadcasted from the resourcerequest message transmitting unit 50 of the notebook size PC 4 to theLAN circuit 2-1 through the information consent 3 a is received in theregistered resource information replying unit 61-1 of the server 1-1connected to the LAN circuit 2-1. The registered resource informationreplying unit 61-1 of the server 1-1, when receiving the resourcerequest message broadcasted from the notebook size PC 4, replies a listof resource information managed by itself.

[0153] Thus, the list of resource information replied from theregistered resource information replying unit 61-1 of the server 1-1 isreceived in the resource information receiving unit 48 of the notebooksize PC 4, and the resource setting unit 41 registers and sets in theOS.

[0154] Therefore, in the twelfth embodiment, once the user connects thenotebook size PC 4 to any one of the information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c,the resource information managed by the server 1-1 (or 1-2) connected tothe LAN circuit 2-1 (or 2-2) to which the information consent 3 a isconnected, in other words, the resource information only in the placewhere the LAN circuit 2-1 (or 2-2) is installed is automaticallyobtained in the notebook size PC 4 and registered in its OS, so that theuser has nothing to do thereafter.

[0155] In the preceding eleventh embodiment, the resource information ofonly the device having the registered resource information replyingunits (61-1, 61-2) is obtained, and if the device not having theregistered resource information replying units (61-1, 61-2) is connectedto the LAN circuit 2-1 (or 2-2), the resource information of that devicewas not obtained. By contrast, in the twelfth embodiment, by registeringthe resource information of all necessary devices in the resourceinformation managing units 62-1, 62-2 of the servers 1-1, 1-2, theresource information of all devices in the periphery of the LAN circuit2-1 (or 2-2) to which the notebook size PC 4 is connected can beobtained.

[0156] Instead of the servers 1-1, 1-2, other PC may be connected toother information consent 3 b of the LAN circuit 2-1 (2-2) to which thenotebook size PC 4 is connected, and the resource information of that PCcan be obtained in the notebook size PC 4.

[0157] Incidentally, when the user selects the software as the resource,same as in the case of the first embodiment, the resource setting unit41 of the notebook size PC 4 sends a download request of the software,and in the server 1-1 or 1-2, the registered resource informationreplying unit 61-1 or 61-2 transmits the program of the software to thenotebook size PC 4. In the notebook size PC 4, the resource setting unit41 receives the transmitted program, and downloads, and registers it inthe program menu. As a result, the user can use the software on thenotebook size PC 4.

[0158] A thirteenth embodiment of the invention is described whilereferring to a block diagram in FIG. 20.

[0159] In FIG. 20, reference numeral 2 denotes a LAN circuit, and pluralinformation consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c are connected thereto. The notebooksize PC 4 can freely connect to or disconnect from the informationconsents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c.

[0160] The information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c are identical inconstitution, and the information consent 3 a is explained below. Theinformation consent 3 a includes a network position managing unit 31 aand a wireless communication unit 36 a. A unique identifier is stored inthe network position managing unit 31 a, and when the notebook size PC 4is connected to the information consent 3 a having it, the identifierstored in the network position managing unit 31 a is read into thenotebook size PC 4. The wireless communication unit 36 a is used forwireless communication with the notebook size PC 4.

[0161] The notebook size PC 4 includes a resource setting unit 41, aresource information database 42, and a wireless communication unit 51.The resource setting unit 41 executes processing for actually settingthe resource in the notebook size PC 4. In the resource informationdatabase 42, a list of resource information corresponding to severalpreset destinations is registered. The wireless communication unit 51 isused for wireless communication with the wireless communication unit 36a of the information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c. Of course, in otherinformation consent 3 c, a wireless communication unit is provided sameas in the information consent 3 a, and the wireless communication unit51 can also communicate wireless with the others.

[0162] Between the wireless communication unit of the informationconsents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c and the wireless communication unit 51 of thenotebook size PC 4, wireless (infrared ray) communication is doneaccording to a standard such as the IrDA.

[0163] When the user uses the notebook size PC 4 by connecting to theLAN circuit 2, the operation is as follows. In this thirteenthembodiment, however, the notebook size PC 4 and the LAN circuit 2 arenot connected physically, but are connected by wireless communication asstated above.

[0164] First, the user puts the notebook size PC 4 near one of theinformation consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, for example, 3 a, then the wirelesscommunication unit 51 of the notebook size PC 4 reads out the identifierfrom the network position managing unit 31 a of the information consent3 a by wireless communication, and selects the corresponding destinationout of the several destinations registered preliminarily in the resourceinformation database 42. Then the resource setting unit 41 of thenotebook size PC 4 reads out a list of resource information registeredcorresponding to the place from the resource information database 42,and registers in the OS. This is the same in the other informationconsents 3 b, 3 c.

[0165] Therefore, in the thirteenth embodiment, the user has only to putthe notebook size PC 4 at distance and position possible for wirelesscommunication, without physically connected to any one of theinformation consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, then a list of resource informationis automatically registered in the OS, so that the user has nothing todo thereafter.

[0166] A fourteenth embodiment of the invention is described whilereferring to a block diagram in FIG. 21.

[0167] In FIG. 21, reference numeral 2 denotes a LAN circuit, and pluralinformation consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c are connected thereto. The notebooksize PC 4 can freely connect to or disconnect from the informationconsents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c. To the LAN circuit 2, moreover, a radio basestation 8 as described below is connected through a communicationcircuit 83, for example, a telephone circuit.

[0168] The information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c are respectively providedwith network position managing units 31 a, 31 b, 31 c, and radiocommunication units 36 a, 36 b, 36 c. A unique identifier is stored ineach one of the network position managing units 31 a, 31 b, 31 c, andwhen the notebook size PC 4 is connected to one of the informationconsents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, the identifier stored in the network positionmanaging unit 31 a, 31 b, or 31 c is read into the notebook size PC 4.The wireless communication units 36 a, 36 b, 36 c are used for wirelesscommunication with the notebook size PC 4.

[0169] The notebook size PC 4 includes a resource setting unit 41, aresource information database 42, and a destination selecting unit 43.The resource setting unit 41 executes processing for actually settingthe resource in the notebook size PC 4. In the resource informationdatabase 42, a list of resource information corresponding to severalpreset destinations is registered. The destination selecting unit 43selects the destination according to the location information noticedfrom the radio base station 8 out of plural destination candidatesregistered in the resource information database 42.

[0170] Reference numeral 7 is a portable radio equipment, morespecifically a device capable of locating the position in the radio basestation 8, for example, a portable terminal of PHS (Personal Handy-phoneSystem), and in this example, it is supposed that the radio base station8 is installed indoors, and plural portable radio equipments 7 are usedas extension telephones.

[0171] The radio base station 8 is a base station of such system asmentioned above, and is connected to multiple other radio base stationsthrough a network circuit 80. This radio base station 8 includes a basestation position managing unit 81 and a user corresponding unit 82. Thebase station position managing unit 81 manages the identifier indicatingthe location of the radio base station 8 itself including this basestation position managing unit 81. The user corresponding unit 82 storesthe information for corresponding the identification of the user of theportable radio equipment 7 and the user of the notebook size PC 4.

[0172] When the user uses the notebook size PC 4 by connecting to theLAN circuit 2, the operation is as follows. First, the user connects thenotebook size PC 4 to one of the information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, forexample, 3 a, and manipulates the portable radio equipment 7 to connectto the radio base station 8. As a result, the radio base station 8detects that the portable radio equipment 7 is existing within itscommunication area, and broadcasts the identifier indicating itslocation to the LAN circuit 2 from the base station position managingunit 81 through the communication circuit 83. At the same time, theradio base station 8 identifies the user corresponding to the detectedportable radio equipment 7 from the data stored in the usercorresponding unit 82.

[0173] The output broadcasted from the base station position managingunit 81 of the radio base station 8 is received by the informationconsent, for example, the information consent 3 a, coinciding with theidentifier stored in the network position managing units 31 a, 31 b, 31c in the information consents 3 a, 3 b, 3 c connected to the LAN circuit2. As a result, the information consent 3 a recognizes that the notebooksize PC 4 is present nearby.

[0174] Then, the wireless communication unit 51 of the notebook size PC4 reads out the identifier from the network position managing unit 31 aof the information consent 3 a by wireless communication, and selectsthe corresponding destination out of the several destinations registeredpreliminarily in the resource information database 42. Then the resourcesetting unit 41 of the notebook size PC 4 reads out a list of resourceinformation registered corresponding to the place from the resourceinformation database 42, and registers in the OS.

[0175] Therefore, in the fourteenth embodiment, the position of theportable radio equipment 7 held by the user of the notebook size PC 4 isdetected by the radio base station 8, and the position information isnoticed to the notebook size PC 4 through the information consent 3 a(or 3 b, 3 c) to which the notebook size PC 4 is connected, and a listof resource information is automatically registered in the OS of thenotebook size PC 4, so that the user has nothing to do at all.

[0176] In the foregoing embodiments, as described above, the portablenotebook size PC is connected to the information consent, but this isonly an example, and, not limited to the notebook size PC, it may beapplied to a general computer system, whether desk top type or towertype.

[0177] According to the invention, as specifically described herein,when the computer is connected to the information consent of the networkcircuit, the resource information relating to the resource usable in thearea through the network circuit is set either semiautomatically orautomatically, and the function of the network can be fully utilized, sothat the convenience and productivity may be enhanced.

[0178] Besides, since the resource can be used through the networkwithout inquiring to the administrator of the network, setting ofresource information is easy, and the required time is saved.

[0179] When using the portable personal computer by connecting to anetwork circuit, the resource environment substantially equivalent tothe environment to be used by the user of the portable personal computercan be selected, and therefore the hitherto disliked operation offrequent connection and disconnection of the portable personal computerwith the network is facilitated, and the utility is improved.

[0180] Moreover, according to the portable computer of the invention,when connected to the network, the resource information relating to theresource usable near the network is set semiautomatically orautomatically, and the resources can be utilized through the networkwithout having to inquire to the administrator of the network. Hence,the resource environment substantially equivalent to the environment tobe used by the user of the portable personal computer can be selected,and therefore the hitherto disliked operation of frequent connection anddisconnection of the portable personal computer with the network isfacilitated, and the utility is improved.

[0181] As this invention may be embodied in several forms withoutdeparting from the spirit of essential characteristics thereof, thepresent embodiments are therefore illustrative and not restrictive,since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claimsrather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fallwithin metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes andbounds thereof are therefore intended to be embraced by the claims.

1. A method of controlling a system comprising: managing hardware or software information relating to a plurality of hardware or software which is usable through said system, the hardware or software information including a position in the real world for each of the hardware or software; selecting the hardware or software according to the hardware or software information, comprising providing the hardware or software information to a user, the user selecting one of the hardware or software according to the hardware of software information.
 2. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising operating the selected hardware or software after the selecting of the hardware or software.
 3. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the selected hardware is a printer selected from a plurality of printers, and the operating of the selected hardware comprises performing a print job. 